March 9, 2010

Much like life, live television can be unpredictable. Wednesday morning, one of televisions famous faces will do something that has never been done before.
Harry Smith, co-anchor of CBS's "The Early Show," will undergo a colonoscopy live on network television.

In 2000, "CBS Evening News" anchor Katie Couric let the cameras roll as she underwent the procedure. It was an effort to bring light to the need for preventative measures after her 42-year-old husband Jay died from colon cancer. Doctors say colon cancer is the second most lethal type of cancer.

Doctors say that Couric's pre-taped event drew countless new patients into their offices across the country to have the procedure done and Smith hopes to his effort will have the same effect.

"This is probably not the most risky or the most bizarre, I did after all dress up as Julia Child last Halloween," said Smith on where his career in live TV has taken him.

"People hear colonoscopy and think I'm never gonna let them do that to me, we will show you step by step by step to de-stigmatize them," said Smith.

Smith says it's important for the cameras to catch a real representation of how it's done.

"You drink an interesting liquid that basically makes you go to the bathroom like you've never gone to the bathroom before," Smith described.

Smith hopes taking a private matter public will help encourage others to get their colonoscopy screening.

Smith's colonoscopy procedure will be aired live on Wednesday, March 9 at 7 a.m. on CBS19.